At the 2024 Fashion Awards hosted by the British Fashion Council at the Royal Albert Hall in London, a remarkable event took place. Alex Consani, a 21-year-old model and TikTok star, made history by being named Model of the Year, becoming the first transgender model to win this prestigious award. On the stage, she seized the opportunity to recognize the significance of the moment, stating that she "can't accept this award without thanking those who came before me." She specifically paid tribute to "the Black trans women who really fought for the space I'm in today."

Highlighting the Journey and Support

After being named Model of the Year, Consani took to Instagram to celebrate her win. She shared photos of herself holding the award and captioned the post with "IM SCREAMING I [JUST] WON MODEL OF THE YEAR. I can't even begin to process this." This victory was not only a personal achievement but also a symbol of the progress being made in the modeling industry.In her speech, Consani named other models like "Dominique Jackson, Connie Fleming, Aaron Rose Phillips and countless more who fought for the space that allowed me to flourish today." She continued by expressing her gratitude to her parents for their ongoing support and encouraged other parents of transgender kids to do the same. She emphasized that "Change is more than possible; it's needed."

Dealing with Frustrations and Celebrations

Fellow Model of the Year nominee Anok Yai took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to congratulate Consani while also expressing her frustrations. She wrote, "Alex, I love you and I'm so proud of you. British Fashion Council, thank you but I don't want it anymore." She followed up by saying, "If you have seen the effort that I've seen Alex put in; you would understand how proud I am of her. But Alex can be proud and I can be exhausted at the same time. It doesn't take away how much love we have for each other."Consani, who previously became one of the first transgender models to walk at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Oct. 15, also spoke up about advocating for more diversity in the modeling industry in her interview with Teen Vogue back in October. She emphasized that "it's scary, though, because if you talk about the need for diversity to someone in power, they might X you out and say, 'Well, if you're upset then we'll just make sure you're not included.' I don't see the people who I'm inspired by doing the same jobs I'm doing or getting the same support. It's upsetting. Where are the dolls of color? Where's the South Asian models? The Native American/Indigenous models? I'm close to people in those communities, and it's really changed my perception of fashion."This historic event by Alex Consani has opened up new possibilities and conversations in the modeling industry, showing that change is not only possible but necessary. It serves as an inspiration for others and a reminder of the power of representation.